As the long limousine purred to life Edwina felt as if she were Elizabeth, setting sail to battle the Spanish Armada. She was Elizabeth, damn it! What she had built no one was going to take away from her. Not her house, not her hotels, not her fine stable of horses -- and most especially not the young thoroughbred she had left sleeping by the side of her Olympic-size outdoor pool. Some pleasures, she decided, were simply too enticing to give up.
In this excerpt from "Power of a Woman," Edwina experiences a surge of empowerment as she embarks on a new journey in her luxurious limousine. She likens herself to Queen Elizabeth I, ready to face challenges with determination and strength. This comparison highlights her resilience and the pride she takes in her accomplishments, such as her properties and her prized horses.
Edwina's defiance is clear; she is unwilling to let anything, including material possessions or jealousy from others, threaten what she has built. Her attachment to her thoroughbred symbolizes her refusal to relinquish the joys that life offers, suggesting that some pleasures are vital to her identity and happiness. The passage captures her fierce independence and commitment to her success.
